Whenever I meet with a patron or visitor to the library, I take my time. I focus on imagining I have all the time in the world to meet with this individual. I turn off my computer screen, turn to my visitor, and listen. In reality I don’t have much time. I know that this […]

A Dutch library has done just what we hope to do in the library world: they reinvented the library experience and created something that their community craves. As a result of this reinvention, Nieuwe Bibliotheek (New Library) in the town of Almere has achieved record numbers of visitors each year. The library staff didn’t rely […]

Libraries are famously expected to be quiet. It is still the case in some libraries, but this has been changing for some time.  The inhabitants of a library expect a certain amount of noise and activity. The keys clicking, pages turning. Staff are helping with questions, checkouts, or shelving books. A great library actually purrs. […]